Electrical connector assembly having improved locking portions

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes a board connector and a cable connector. The board connector includes a first seat comprising a base and two first sidewalls commonly defining a mating space, and a pair of first locking portions with locking heads projecting into the mating space, and a plurality of first terminals retained in the first seat and comprising contacting portions projecting into the mating space and leg portions. The cable connector includes a second seat including a pair of second locking portions to engage with the first locking portions and plural second terminals retained in the second seat. The first seat of the board connector further includes a second sidewall unitarily connecting with the base and first sidewalls at a same side and the second sidewall defines a first locking section to engage with a second locking section defined on the cable connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A board connector adapted for mating with a cable connector, comprising:
 a first seat comprising a base, two opposite first sidewalls arranged along a first direction, and a second sidewall connecting with the base and the first sidewalls at top faces thereof; and 
 a plurality of first terminals retained in the base and comprising contacting portions projecting from a front face of the base and arranged along the first direction between the two first sidewalls; 
 wherein the second sidewall defines a first locking section for engaging with a corresponding second locking section defined on the cable connector; 
 wherein a pair of first locking portions is provided at an inside of the first sidewalls, and the first locking portions are capable of deforming in the first direction; and 
 wherein the second sidewall defines two longitudinal slots aligned with the first locking portions, and the first locking portion is surrounded within a corresponding longitudinal slot in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The board connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first locking section comprises at least one locking hole or at least one locking bump. 
     
     
       3. The board connector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one locking hole runs through a lower face of the second sidewall. 
     
     
       4. The board connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking hole is located between front ends of the contacting portions and the base in the second direction. 
     
     
       5. The board connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second sidewall defines two locking holes distinct from each other along the first direction for serving as the first locking section. 
     
     
       6. The board connector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first locking portion comprises a cantilever arm unitarily extending from the base. 
     
     
       7. The board connector as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the cantilever arm is provided with a locking boss at a front end thereof, the locking boss is disposed at an upper portion of the front end of the cantilever arm.